Jon Pardi was invited Friday night to join the Grand Ole Opry – making him its 225th member and the first ever to hail from California.
The 37-year-old country star was surprised when Alan Jackson extended the invitation via a video message that was played during Pardi’s set at the Stagecoach Festival.
“I’ve been appreciating your music ever since you were touring with me a few years ago,” Jackson said, “and so I get the honour to invite you in front of all your Stagecoach friends out there to be the first native of California to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Give it up for our very own @JonPardi, the first California native to be inducted into the @opry Many thanks to the great @OfficialJackson and @GuyFieri for doing the honors pic.twitter.com/0pjO0WxPB9
— Stagecoach Festival (@Stagecoach) April 29, 2023
A visibly emotional Pardi, who celebrated with a shot of tequila, said: “I moved to Nashville chasing a dream at 22 years old and now I'm here. I love you guys and I love country music. Thank you, everybody. This is an amazing night. I'll never forget it. I guess if you want to come visit Tennessee, I'll see you at the Grand Ole Opry now.”
Pardi is scheduled to perform on July 7 at The Colosseum at Caesars in Windsor, Ont., July 13 at Country Thunder in Craven, Saskatchewan, July 15 at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg and Aug. 18 at Country Thunder in Calgary. This fall, he will be in Abbotsford, BC, Oshawa, Ont. and London, Ont.
His most recent album, Mr. Saturday Night, was released in September.
The only Canadian member of the Grand Ole Opry is Terri Clark, was joined in 2004.
What a way to join the Opry family! ✨ pic.twitter.com/rq8rJo2h5w
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) April 29, 2023